1)

Why did Hashem order Yisrael to be counted now?

1.

Rashi #1: It can be compared to a shepherd, who after his flock was attacked by wolves, counted the sheep to see how many remained. 1

2.

Rashi #2: When Yisrael left Egypt, they were handed over to Moshe with a census; now, when Moshe was about to die, he handed them back with a census.

3.

Da'as Zekenim: This was to know who will fight the Cana'anim - in the imminent conquest of Cana'an. 2

4.

Chizkuni (on Pasuk 2): "La'Eileh Techalek ha'Aretz" (Pasuk 53) teaches that it was for the distribution of Eretz Yisrael.

5.

Alshich: It was in order that Hashem put his name on the families to testify about them (refer to 26:5:2:1).


1

See Oznayim la'Torah as to why they present the Mashal of a wolf and not of a plague.

2

As is evident from "Kol Yotz'ei Tzava be'Yisrael" in Pasuk 2.

2)

Why is there a P'sik (a Parshah- break) in the middle of the Pasuk?

1.

Riva and Moshav Zekenim #1: This hints that the previous Parshah (to fight Midyan) is out of place, since it was only told to Moshe in Parshas Matos -after the census. 1 And it is written here to teach us that, since B'nei Yisrael died on account of Midyan, they deserved to die. 2

2.

Moshav Zekenim #2: It is to separate Yisrael from the punishment of the plague, and to teach us that there were not [significantly] less than the first count. 3

3.

Targum Yonsan: Because the first part of the Pasuk refers (also) to the previous Pasuk - 'After the plague, where Yisrael were smitten, Hashem's Mercy welled on behalf of Yisrael' - to avenge what was done to them, since it is appropriate for those who caused them to fall to be smitten just as they were. 4


1

Moshav Zekenim: A support for this is the fact that "Tzaror" is written with a Kamatz. A command would have been written 'Titzror', or 'Tzeror' with a Sheva! Rather, in the future Yisrael will afflict them. (Another support lies in the word "Vay'hi Acharei ha'Mageifah" - which always implies a long time afterwards.

2

Riva and Moshav Zekenim #1: If even an animal through which a Yisrael sins (with bestiality, and he is killed), the animal is killed, all the more so Midyan!

3

Hadar Zekenim (on Pasuk 59): There were [a drop] fewer in this count, lest people say that a smaller amount could not have conquered Eretz Yisrael. We learn that Hashem has no constraint to save, through few or many. Only three hundred men went with Gid'on!

4

According to the explanation of the Na'ar Yonasan citing Midrashim and Oznayim la'Torah.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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